The U.S. Navy and the navies of three of its closest allies on Feb. 1 began a three-day maritime exercise in international waters perilously close to the territorial waters of Iran in the Persian Gulf.
The exercise involving the U.S. Navy; the Royal Navy; the Royal Australian Navy and the French Navy (Marine Nationale) is intended to enhance mutual capabilities, improve tactical proficiency and strengthen partnerships in ensuring the free flow of commerce and freedom of navigation in the gulf and the adjoining Arabian Sea.
The exercise named Unified Trident is being led by the Royal Navy.
This exercise in the gulf will bring the allied fleet close to bases of the Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (NEDSA) that has control over Iranian maritime operations in the Persian Gulf. NEDSA is also known to the west as the Revolutionary Guards Navy.
NEDSA has been responsible for the 35 incidents involving run-ins with U.S. Navy warships in the first half of 2016, said the Pentagon. This January the USS Mahan (DDG-72), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer fired flares and warning shots at four NEDSA attack boats as they approached the destroyer.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, warns against any incursion of the participating ships into Iranian territorial waters.
"We don't care what is said by whom or what they do. For us, it is important to be so ready in our defensive capabilities to stand any threat at anywhere," said Admiral Sayyari.
"Anybody who wishes to stage a war game within the limits of the free waters should follow the international law, and we do not allow anybody to get close to our waters and this is our red line."
U.S. officials have said there is no plan to enter Iranian territorial waters, which is internationally recognized as the area extending 12 nautical miles from a nation's shoreline.
The exercise, however, appears ill-timed as tensions between Iran and the U.S. have rapidly risen following an ill-advised and racist ban by U.S. president Donald Trump on citizens from six mostly Muslim nations -- including Iran -- from entering the U.S.
Iran retaliated yesterday by saying it will enact a reciprocal ban on American travel to the country, adding it will "retaliate" against the U.S.